Licensed Residential Mental Health Therapist

Come join our life-changing team building hope, resilience and well-being as a Licensed Residential Mental Health Therapist at Avanti Center in Blaine!

Shift Details: FT – 40 hours/week

Schedule: The Residential Mental Health Therapist role supports youth in a 24-hour residential treatment environment and includes a set blended schedule designed to meet client needs across peak service times. Candidates should be comfortable working a set combination of days, evenings, and weekends as part of their standard schedule.

This Position Is Regularly Scheduled For

• Two weekday daytime shifts (normal business hours)
• One extended weekday shift (e. g. 12:00pm-8:00pm)
• Ongoing weekend coverage (Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am-4:00pm). Working one weekend per month; schedule will be adjusted to include two fewer weekdays of your choice within that pay period.
• Participation within the MHP on-call phone support rotation

Compensation: $67,000-$72,000 annual salary

Location: 10300 Flanders St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55449

About the Job

Provide high-quality, trauma-informed, whole-person mental health services for youth served in residential care. Lead collaborative care that advances resident outcomes and service impact while upholding professionalism, integrity, accountability, and youth and family dignity.

Essentials

• Maintain a therapeutic caseload and deliver individual, family, and group therapy using evidence-based, trauma-informed modalities that honor youth dignity and cultural identity.
• Engage families and natural supports in treatment planning and reviews, modeling compassion and relational practice that strengthens the care system around each youth.
• Develop person-centered treatment plans with measurable goals; track progress and adjust interventions to drive program efficacy and positive outcomes.
• Provide clinical direction to the treatment team and milieu staff, investing in staff development through real-time coaching, reflective practice, and strengths-based feedback.
• Coordinate care with psychiatrists, medical, educational, and community providers to support whole-person care and smooth transitions
• Facilitate at least one mental health–focused group per week that promotes emotional regulation, resilience, and safe skill practice
• Lead or participate in treatment reviews, using data and observation to evaluate service impact and ensure accountability to treatment goals
• Collaborate with the treatment team on milieu interventions, discharge planning, and aftercare supports, sustaining a safe, professional, and team-oriented work culture.
• Provide therapeutic presence and support on the milieu as needed, using de escalation and relationship-based approaches consistent with trauma-informed care
• Complete timely, accurate documentation for all services; ensure compliance with agency policy, licensure, payer, CARF, and HIPAA privacy and security

Requirements

• Participate in on-call rotation to provide coaching and clinical guidance to direct care staff outside of business hours, maintaining calm, compassionate support and clear accountability
• Advance equity and cultural responsiveness; contribute to an inclusive environment where youth and families are treated with respect and dignity
• Other duties as assigned
• Respond to crisis situations using approved de-escalation techniques and, when necessary, implement trained physical intervention procedures (including physical holds) to ensure the immediate safety of youth, staff, and others, in accordance with program policy and training.

Physical Demands

• Walking, standing, stair climbing, and sitting for periods of time.
• Occasional running, pushing, and pulling; ability to support de-escalation procedures per program guidelines.
• This role requires the ability to respond to emergency and crisis situations, including the use of approved physical intervention techniques, consistent with training and policy.

Job Highlights

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• HSA & FSA Programs
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Quality training, continuing career education and leadership programs
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holiday & Sick Days)

Skills and Competencies

• Relationship-centered engagement; exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (professional + relational balance).
• Trauma-informed, whole-person, and strengths-based practice; family and group facilitation skills.
• Clinical assessment, safety planning, and evidence-based intervention delivery.
• Data-informed practice and outcomes tracking for program efficacy and service impact.
• Time management, problem solving, mediation/negotiation, and team collaboration.
• Commitment to integrity, accountability, professionalism, and a safe work culture.

Required Qualifications

• Must have a master's degree in the following fields from an accredited college or university (e. g. Clinical Social Work, Clinical Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy).
• Currently licensed as a Mental Health Professional in Minnesota (e. g. LMFT,

Licsw, LPCC)

• Experience working with adolescents experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns; dual LADC licensure preferred, but not required.
• Must be 21 years of age or older with a valid Driver's License, and ability to meet background study requirements.
• Must be able to safely preform all essential job functions, including responding to behavioral crises and implementing approved physical intervention techniques (including physical holds).

About Us

Avanti Center provides therapeutic, residential care to adolescents aged 12-17 whose sex is assigned female, who are experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges.

This intensive, supportive environment serves adolescents that have tried outpatient services and are unable to be supported at home or in their community due to their mental health needs.

Diagnoses include depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and emerging personality disorders which often present as self-injurious behavior and history of frequent hospitalizations for suicidal ideation and attempts. DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)-based interventions are used in programming.

Volunteers of America Minnesota is a nonprofit health and human services organization that annually serves more than 25,000 children, adolescents and their families, older adults, students, persons with disabilities and special needs, and adults completing incarceration. Since 1896, we have helped people gain self-reliance, dignity, and hope.

Take pride in helping others and join us today!

At VOA, we celebrate sharing, encouraging and embracing diversity.

Equal employment opportunities are available to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We believe that blending individual strengths and unique personal differences nurtures and supports our organizations’ shared commitment to our mission and creates an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to do their personal best.